The Community Outreach Innovation Team I am leading at church is going to do something this week that is outside of our church’s normal operating practices. We are going to BRAINSTORM.
Innovation experts have a lot to say about Brainstorming. There are a few points I am focused on in preparation for the session.
First, brainstorming takes practice. It does not always come naturally to people, but it can be developed and cultivated.
Tom Kelley writes, “If you want to keep in shape, you have to exercise your brainstorming muscles more than once a month.”
So, with that knowledge, I am approaching our session this week with realistic expectations. Like when starting an exercise program, the first few sessions may be uncomfortable and uncertain, but with consistency and practice results improve. I hope brainstorming will become a regular part of this team as we learn how best to interact with our community and implement new ideas.
Second, in brainstorming quantity is more important than quality. Scott Cormode gives the picture of ideas being like seeds. When planting seeds, you never really know which ones will thrive and which will fail to sprout.
He explains, “the hallmark of an innovative organization is the ability to regularly generate lots of new ideas.”
I hope out of our brainstorming session, we can pull 2-3 ideas that we want to practice and integrate into our fall outreach event. Expectantly, we will learn something from implementing prototypes of these ideas and we can adjust or further develop for future community engagement.
Third, when brainstorming, list all ideas, even the ones that seem crazy. One key of brainstorming is to allow an environment where ideas are not censored but shared. Sometimes the “out there” ideas are the ones that lead to the best idea. If they are not shared the path becomes blocked.
Ultimately in a church setting, we hope that brainstorming is a process we can trust the Holy Spirit to lead. God is creative (just look at the world around us), and we are created in His image so that means we are uniquely creative for our specific community. As we approach brainstorming effective ways to reach our community, we need to make room for the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and direct. What areas of your life, do you need to make room for the Holy Spirit?
KATHY PIERBURG 